Gul receives Ondimnba of Gabon

President Abdullah Gul yesterday hosted President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Speaking at a joint press conference following a tete-a-tete meeting, Gul said that Turkey's economic cooperation with African countries was not based on a unilateral gain, but that Turkey develops its relations on the principle of win-win. Stating that Turkish businesspeople and small and medium scale businesses are greatly interested in Gabon, Gul said that they had many big infrastructure investments in that country. Gul also said that Turkish companies would construct new residential units in Gabon. Touching upon the situation in Syria, Gul recalled that UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan announced a plan after his first visit to Syria. Gul said that fierce clashes had been continuing, cities had been under bombing, and more civilians had been killed after so-called cease fire had been declared under the plan. "Migration of Syrian citizens is speeding up. There are almost more than 40,000 Syrians crossed in Turkey so as in Jordan and other countries," said Gul. Gul added that a new administration, which would represent the will of people, should immediately be set up after so many deaths in Syria. For his part, Ondimba said that Turkey was now one of the biggest strategic partners of Africa. Stating that Turkey is a model for Gabon and other countries on development sector, Ondimba said that the residential sector was their priority to develop. "There is a huge gap in this sector in Gabon, and a need of approximately 200,000 accommodation units. To close this gap we received constructive response from Turkey," Ondimba said, adding, "Turkey is one of the biggest strategic partners of Africa. We want Turkey's flag to wave in the capital city of Libreville. In the light of these, we want Turkish Airlines to begin flights to Gabon soon."